Rotary gas scrubber and exhauster



(No Model) R. B. MGLAINk ROTARY GAS SGRUBBBR AND BXHAUSTER. N o. 282,346.

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` hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,

" UNITED STATES A'rBNr Brice.

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VROTA'IRYGAS soRUBBER AND ExHAusTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 252,346, dated July ai, 1883.

A pplieaon filed September 5, 1882. (Xo model.) 4

.To` all whom t may concern: l

Be it known that I, ROBERT B. MCLAIN, a resident of Wheeling, in the county of Ohio; and State of IVest Virginia, have invented; certain new and useful Improvements in Roi tary Gas Scrubbers and Exhausters; andl do and exact description of the invention, which `will enable othersskilled in the art to which v 1t appertains to make and use the same, reference being had .to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon,

,s which form a part of this speeicatiom My invention relates to an apparatus propelled by steam or other power for the abA sorption or condensation of ammonia, sulphureted hydrogencarbonic acid, or other inipurities from coal-gas or other gases or val Apors by washing or scrubbing with water or4 other liquids. In addition to the above uses, this particular apparatus `1nay also be used simply as a condenser for gases-such as hydrochloric-acid gas-or for volatilized metalssuch as zinc-,or for volatilized metalloidssuchas sulphur or kindred metals or metalloids; or it may be used as an oXidizer for treating Aliquids with air, oxygen, or other gases.

To this end itconsists .of a horizontal'cylinder of suitable size, having a depressed ltrough or gutter on the interior of the cylinder, at the lower side, to receive the sedimentary'deposits or heavier liquids. Through the center ofthe cylinder is a spiral' conveyer, made preferably of sheet metal in the manner' of a screw-propeller, connected to a central shaft operated by steam or other suitable power, for the purpose of effectually scrubbing the gas, and at the same operation drawing it forwardv from the retorts and condensers and forcing it into` the purifying boxes or holders.

In the drawings, Figure l is a central longi i tudinal section through the cylinder; Fig. 2, a

transverse section; Fig. 3, a side view of three i, A of the lcylinders connected together. 45

Like letters of reference refer to like parts.

The letter A designates the cylinder, made preferably about twenty-four inches long and thirty-six inches in diameter, and having re` movable ends B B', secured to the saine with bolts, with suitable packing between, or in any other manner to secure an air-tight connection.

C is a gutter or trough in the lower side of the cylinder, extending lengthwise from'one head to the other. If desirable, this trough can be connected to the outside of the cylinder, and suitable openings made through the shell for the liquid to ilow through.

D D are cocks, one on the end of the trough and one in theside, to remove the liquid from the same, i

E is a connecting-pipe, provided with a valve, a, byv means of which two or more cylinders may be connected or disconnected at pleasure.

F F are openings for the admission of gas.

G is a supply-pipe, having a regulatingvalve, b, for the admission of water or other washing-Huid. Y

L is a gage showing the water-level,

H is a central shaft extending through the i cylinder, having suitable bearings, c c, at each end, and provided with a belt-pulley,l z', or an equivalent device, by which power may be applied to the shaft. To this shaft is attached a continuous 'spiral of sheet metal, k, in the manner of a screw-thread. The rsttwo spaces d d, or more, if necessary, are inclosed witha casing, e, to form an exhauster in the manner of a suction-fan, to draw the gas into contact with the `scrubbing-surfaces independent of any' outside pressure. The spacesi of the spiral which are inclosed with outer cas, ing, are made preferably about twice as large as the remaining iiights, which are made as close together as practicable, about one inch apart, so as to give the greatest number `of spaces or flights possible to the`length of the cylinder, and thereby obtaining the greatest possible amount of surface for scrubbing purposes.

rlhe mode of operation is as follows: lWater or other suitable liquid is first introduced into the cylinder by means of the supply-pipe G, in suitable quantities, regulated by the watergage L. The spiral conveyer is then set in motion.` Its lower half being immersedA in liquid serves to keep the entire surface'of the spiral wet and cooled. The gas to be washed is admitted through the opening F, from whence a portion of it is drawn by the vacuum produced at each revolution of the spiral, and is carried forward through the cylinder, every portion of the gas being s uc- IOO Q :genees cessively brought into contact with the cooled and wetted surfaces of each thread or flight of the spiral conveyer, keeping it constantly in contact with the same until it has traversed the entirelength of the apparatus, from whence it is forced out under a pressure that may be regulated by the speed of the spiral. The spiral conveyer or scrubber at each revolution tends to produce a vacuum, so that the apparatus, instead of causing the back-pressure which has been so troublesome in all former .washers or scrubbers, operates as an eXhauster, drawing the gas or vapor from the retorts, hydraulic mains, andl condensers and forcing it into the purifying boXes or holders. The water or other liquids, being carried forward in the same direction as the gas and having no outlet, return by the trough in the lower part of the cylinder, the tar and heavy impurities or precipitates settling to the bottom, from whence they may be drawn by the cocks D in the side of the trough. This trough serves as a harbor for the tar and other 'impurities, whereby they are prevented from being constantly brought into contact with the vapors during the process of washing and scrubbing.- When the water or other liquids have fouled, they may be drawn off by the cock D in the end of the trough; or, if necessary, the flow of the liquid may be so regulated by the supply and outlet valves as to maintain the desired strength; or a combination may be made, the operation being slightly varied according to the object to be accomplished.

For some purposes it may be desirable to separate the portion of the spiral conveyer covered by a casing, el, forming the exhauster,77 so called, from the open portion, and to accomplish this a transverse partition can be inserted in the cylinder at the juncture of the two parts, having suitable openings through it for the passage of the gas or fluids. This modication I consider within the scope of my invention. l When desirable, two or more of these maohines may be combined, so that two or more spirals may be worked upon the same shaft, A and one or more'of the heads B be saved.

With this combination the gases passing through the line of apparatus may be more thoroughly purified, a sufficient number of machines being combined, so that the liquid in the last one shall show no contamination.

The completely-fouled o r thoroughly-concentrated liquid may be drawn from the first machine or compartment through the cock D, as the valve ci on the connecting-pipe E and the Valve bon the supply-pipe G may be connected by a rod, so that all are opened or closed by one motion. Wl'ien these are opened, pure water or other washing material is allowed to flow into the last machine or compartment till the L shows the proper level; or different liquids may be used in the separate machines or compartments of the combined apparatus, for the purpose of removing different impurities, or for the purpose of separating mixed gases by absorbing them in appropriate liquids, in which cases the fouled or concentrated liquids may be drawn from each compartment by a suitable modification of the valves and the connectingpipes into separate receptacles. (Shown more fully in Fig. 3.) By the latter arrangement the complete purification of coal-gas or the separation of other mixed gases or vapors may be effected in closed vessels by machinery, veach of the component parts being obtained in the most available form for utilization, the noxious and offensive odors avoided, and the eX- pensive manual labor greatly eeonomized.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,A

The combination, with the case A, of the central shaft, the screw-conveyer, and the casing e, adapted to surround and inclose a portion of said conveyer at one end ofthe casing A', substantially for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT n. MCLAIN. 

